Submarine bomb



D. B. DUNLOP.

SUBMARINE BOMB. APPLICATION FILED MN. 29, 1916.

Patnted Aug. 15, 1916.

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SUBMARINE BOMB.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 29. 1916.

1,19%,726. PatentedAug. 15,1916.

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DANIEL BUTTS DUNLOI, OF PETERSIBURG, VIRGINIA.

SUBMARINE BOMB.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 151, rare.

Application filedvJanuary 29, 1916. Serial No. 74,977.

The present invention relates to a submarine bomb of the general type shown and described in iny U. S. Patent No. 1,161,636, of November 23rd, 1915; in fact, this invention consists in specific improvements on my patented device.

The patented bomb is designed for use against subelnarine craft and is intended to be dropped from a distance above the water, as from an aeroplane or other air craft, to be exploded within a predetermined period of time after it strikes the water, or more particularly, it consists of a container or vehicle holding an explosive charge with detonating means and a time measuring instrument controlling the detonating means with means for releasing or tripping the time measuring instrument when the bomb strikes the surface of the water. 'As disclosed in the drawings in this application and in the previous patent, the tripping means includes a wing or wings held in distended position. by means of a spring and forced, inward when they come in contact with the Water and a lock connected to the Wings and controlling the timing mechanism to release the timing mechanism when the wings strike the water. As long as there is sufiicient pressure on the wings, the timing mechanism will continue to operate, but ';1n case the bomb strikes the sub-marine or rests on the bottom, it is suggested that by rela-x- The present invention relates to a detent at holding the lock in inoperative position after it has once beenactuated to release the timing mechanism so that the explosion cannot be prevented'or retarded or otherwise afiected by relaxation of pressure on the' wing or blade.

The invention also relates to other details, as a specific means for holding the detonating hammer in retracted position and releasing it to fire the charge, and to other de tails hereinafter described.

In the accompanying drawings, I have shown a sub-marine bomb embodying the features of my invention, in Which Figure 1 is an elevation; Fig. 2 is a plan; Fig. 3 is a horizontal section; and Fig. .4 is a transverse section, both through the chamber containing the mechanism; and Fig. 5 is an elevation of a detail- Referring to the drawings by numerals,

and outward from the surface of the casing,

being, as shown, pivoted at 4 to the surface of the casing, and connected at their upper ends to the casing by sliding bars 5 carrying helical springs 6 which as shown bear at one end against the casing and at the other end against the wings or blades and hold thewings normally in distended position. The shdmg bars 5 ,pass inward through the walls of the casing by way'of packed jointsor openings 7 and are guided by means of. apertured plates 6', provided for this-purpose. These sliding or looking bars 5 are provided each with a lug 8, which in the which constitutes the timing element referred to. The lugs each enter the notches on the side opposite that on-whichthe bar carrying that particular lug engages the wing or blade and the lock is released when the bars-are forced in by pressure on the wings.

The parts areshown' in unlocked position in Fig.4, the springs being compressed and the bars 5 thrust inward, as by the pressure onthe wings or blades 3. This figure illustrates in detail the operation of the detents 13 which constitute one of the novel features of the invention. The detents referred to' are shown in the form of sliding plates,

illustrated separately in Fig. 5, the plates,

as shown, being ofinverted U-shape and hung on the locking bars so that when they encounter the flat top surfaces of these bars, they have no efiect on the o eration of the mechanism. In'order to hol the sliding or locking bars in inoperative position when in retracted the clock-work is released by pressure on the wings and prevent interference with the timing mechanism when the pressure on the wings is relaxed, these bars are each notched at 1 1 at a point which is brought beneath the detent as the bars move inward releasing the clock-work, and the detents, as arranged enter'and engage the notches and hold the lugs 8 onthe locking bars out of engagement with the locking wheel 10.

In the form of the invention shown, the detents 13 are mounted in ways or pockets 15 provided for this purpose but they may be held, in any suitable manner within the scope'of the invention and while they are shown as actuated by gravity, any suitable means may be provided for this purpose.

The bomb casing, as shown, is divided into two sections by the partition 16; on the upper side of the casing is 'the timing or tripping mechanism and on the lowerside is the charge of explosive 17 In the partition there is a socket 18 for a primer 19-to be engaged by a suitable hammer or detonator 20 mounted in guide ways 21 and held position by engagement of a suitable detent 22 in the form of a lever pivoted at one end at 23 and having a notch 21 to engage a corresponding notch 25 in the plunger or detonator, the same being advanced by means of a spring 26 applied in the manner illustrated, or in any other suitable manner and normally held in retracted position by the detent 22 as described. In the operation of the mechanism, the notched wheel 30 tends to rotate in the catch lever 31 which is in turn locked by the cam 32 carried by the clock mechanism. hen the clock, which is a quick-acting device preferably having the usual balance lever or detent removed, is released by withdrawal of the lugs 8 from the slots 9 in the wheel 10, the cam 32 is rotated, the lever 31 is in turn released and thrown out of the notch 33 in the wheel 30 so that the gear 34 on. the same shaft is likewise released, releasing the gear 35 carried by the spring 36 and causing the dog 37 which is fastened on the shaft 38 of the wheel 30 to be swun about'the shaft, striking the end of the look ing detent 22 which is thus swung to the dotted position, releasing the detonator and firing the charge.

It will be apparent that with the use of this device, even if the bomb should fall in shallow water and lie on the bottom or be arrested in its progress by contact With the hull, releasing the pressure on the the sliding bars or locking bars 6 will be direction oi the arrow but is held against rotation by the wings,

locked in retracted position by detents 13 so that the lugs cannot engage the locking wheel 10, the timing mechanism will continue to operate and the explosion will take place according to the adjustment of the timingmechanism in a predetermined period after the bomb passes through the surface of the water.

Having thus described my invention. what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a submarine bomb. in combination, a casing having wings or blades, an explosive charge in the casing, detonating means for the charge, means for holding the detonating means in retracted position, time measuring means for controlling the said means, means for locking the time measuring means, connections from the lock to the wings to release the look when the bomb enters the water, and detents adapted to engage the locking means when it is released and hold it in unlocked position.

2. In a submarine bomb, in combination, a casing, an explosive charge 'therein, means for detonating the explosive charge, time measuring means for locking the detonating means, means for locking the time measuring means, and wings or blades controlling the locking device to release the lock when the home enters the water and a detent in the form of a sliding latch engaging the locking means to hold it in inoperative position during the operation of the time measuring means.

3. In a submarine bomb,.in combination, a casing, an explosive charge in the casing, a percussion primer for igniting the charge, a hammer with means tending to advance the hammer into contactwith the primer, means for holding the hammer in retracted position, time measuring means for operating the said means to release the hammer after a predetermined period, means locking the time controlling means, and means for releasing the look when the bomb enters the water, the device for holding the hammer in retracted position consisting of a pivoted lever swinging transversely to the hammers stroke, the time measuring means being provided with a swinging dog to engage the lever and release the hammer.

Signed by me at Petersburg, Dinwiddie county, Virginia, this 25th day of January 1916.

DANIEL BUTTS DUNLOP.

Witnesses:

M. B. CoGBILL, JAS. M. MURRAY.

Copies 01' this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patent:,

Washington, D. C. I 

